Clashes in dense palm groves
Three-day clashes with ISIS in Diyala leave six security personnel dead
DIYALA – Three days of clashes between Iraqi security forces and Islamic State militants in Khan Bani Saad, Diyala governorate, left six security personnel dead and several others injured. The conflict, which began on Friday due to an altercation between armed men and shepherds, concluded on Sunday with the intervention of the Counter-Terrorism Service and aerial support.
A senior security source in Diyala governorate detailed the three-day clashes in Khan Bani Saad, which took place in dense palm groves and along riverbanks. The violence started when three ISIS militants threatened two shepherds in the village of Al-Ayt, about 15 kilometers from Khan Bani Saad and 25 kilometers from Baghdad. One shepherd, armed with a Kalashnikov rifle, killed one militant, while his brother, wielding a hunting rifle, wounded another. The third militant escaped.
Nearby security forces engaged and killed the wounded militant. On Saturday morning, an army force conducted a sweep operation in the orchards of Al-Ayt, near the village of Arab Jabar, discovering more ISIS militants stationed there. A clash ensued, resulting in three army personnel being wounded.
A larger security force escalated the operation amidst dense orchards and riverbanks, leading to the deaths of six personnel, including a lieutenant colonel, and injuring seven others. On Sunday, new reinforcements, including the Counter-Terrorism Service, pushed further into the area with aerial support. Helicopters flew over the densely forested Bostan Sara, destroying several hideouts and killing the militants, concluding the clashes.
Despite losing its territorial caliphate in Iraq in 2017, a United Nations report from January highlighted that between 3,000 and 5,000 ISIS fighters remain active across Iraq and Syria, posing a significant security challenge.
The source, who spoke anonymously, warned of the dangers posed by inadequate intelligence coverage in vast areas of the governorate. This area, located just a couple of dozen kilometers from Baghdad, witnesses continuous militant movements despite typically lacking combat activities.
The southern part of Khan Bani Saad is filled with dense, semi-abandoned orchards where terrorist cells operate with minimal Iraqi security presence. Security forces have now bolstered their presence in the area, and they are planning a new deployment strategy with more checkpoints and patrols.
“These areas require substantial intelligence and security efforts to control as it poses a threat to both the Diyala governorate’s center and Baghdad,” the source concluded.
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